Signaling lamp



Nov. 8, 1938. A Q M C. MARlSCHAL i 2,135,826

S IGNALING LAMP Filed sept. 4, 1957 Patented Nov. 8, 1938 SIGNALING LAMPy Omer Marie Cyrille Marischal, Saint Die, France Application September4, 1937, Serial No. 162,521 In France October 14, 193,6

3 Claims.

This invention has for its object the provision of signal lamps adaptedto employ liquid hydrocarbon as fuel and in which the flame is caused toflicker.

In the operation of lamps according to the invention the wick, carriedby a wick tube, is adapted to be brought to the height of the upper endof an incombustible sheath which is located around and extends above thesaid wick tube. The upper end of the wick is adapted to be lighted sothat the flame is similar to that of an ordinary petroleum lamp buthowever, although the wick is not in contact with the incombustiblesheath a large portion of the wick between the upper f end of the wicktube and the upper end of the sheath does not become ignited. Theincombustible sheath becomes heated as a result of the flame andvaporizes fuel yfrom the non-ignited portion of the wick and thisvaporized fuel is adapted to be forced into contact with the flame bymeans of air entering at the lower end of the sheath into the free spacebetween said sheath and the wick tube, with the result that the flame ismomentarily intensified and as a consequence the flame is caused toflicker.

The maximum intensity of the flame is adapted to be regulated accordingto the height of the wick and the periodicity of the flicker by theregulation of the entry of air into the sheath.

In order that the invention can be fully appreciated it will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:-

Fig. 1 shows in front elevation and partly in section a flickering flamelamp constructed according to one method of carrying the invention intoeffect.

Fig. 2 shows, as a fragmentary view, a portion of Fig. 1 in sidesectional elevation.

Fig. 3 shows, as a fragmentary View, a plan of a portion of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 show in elevation and plan a device for regulating theentry of air, and

Figs. 6 and '7 a front elevation and side elevation of a lantern havinga lamp with flickering flame formed in sheet metal made according to theinvention.

The burner of the lantern I is formed in any usual manner by a wick-tube2 of rectangular form through which passes the wick 3 which extends inthe usual manner into the carburant contained in the reservoir 4. Thewick-tube is soldered to a ring 5 in turn iixed by screwing or solderingto the reservoir 4 by means of a ring l. 9 is the usual wick-adjustingcontrol similar to an ordinary petroleum lamp,

6 is a sheath of incombustible material of general rectangular sectionand of such size as to leave a space between its inner surface and theburner 2 when placed therearound. As shown, it extends well above thetop of the burner 2 5 and at its lower end is fixed to or made integralwith a cylindrical portion 8 which engages over the xing ring 'I and hasa slot 8 for the passage of the control rod 9. Y

I0 are orices which come opposite and at the 1 lower portion of thesheath 6. The size of the openings I0 can be regulated by the deviceshown in Fig. 4. This device comprises a stirrup I4 with notches I2, thefree ends of the limbs being connected by a headed screw I3 with aclamping 15' milled nut I 4, a spring I5 coming between the limbs toensure an automatic opening of the limbs when the nut is unscrewed. Thisdevice is placed over the sheath 6 and is disposed at the lower portionthereof. It can be slid into any'suitable adjusted position, where it isclamped by the nut I4 so that the notches I2 more or less close theopenings I0. The object is to regulate the amount of air enteringthese'openings IIJ to pass upwards between the wick-tube 2 and the 25interior of the sheath Ii.

The operation will be readily understood. The wick is brought to thelevel of the upper end of the sheath 6 and ignited. This heats thesheath and the wick-tube so that air entering through 30 the oriiices I0mixes with the vaporized carburant given off by the exposed surface ofthe wick coming within the sheath 6. On passing upwards this mixturecomes into contact with the flame at the upper end of the wick andbecomes ignited. The 35 slight explosion forces the gas followingupwards in the sheath 6 downwards into the interior so that the amountof the carburetted mixture passing upwards in the sheath which isignited is limited. Immediately thereafter the carburetted gas 40 againrises and is ignited and so on. There is thus produced a continuousseries of rapid ignitions of a certain quantity of carburetted gas whichgives the ame the desired flickering or intermittent quality.

It will be understood that the form and dimensions of the wick-tube canbe varied, the sheath being shaped accordingly to give the free spacenecessary for the flickering effect.

Flickering light systems employing lamps ac- 50 cording to the inventioncan readily be installed in practically every position whilst flickeringlight systems as at present known either necessitate the use ofbatteries with short life and high price or heavy and bulky accumulatorsrequiring re- 55 charging and having all the disadvantages ofsupervision, maintenance and the like, or requiring connection to anelectric supply.

All these disadvantages are avoided by lamps according to the inventionwhich can be located in positions without any preliminary installation.

Moreover, their maintenance consists simply in filling the lamp,trimming the wick from time to time and replacing it when consumed.

Flickering flame burners as herein described provided with a reservoirsuch as 4 can be located in any suitable lantern and as shown in thedrawing (Figs. 6 and 7) this may take the form of a truncated squarepyramid formed from bent sheet metal.

This lantern is fixed by means of aA circular socket formed with anorice and situated at the central part of the base. Into this orice willpass a wood screw adapted then to screw into a thick plank for example.The door l5 of the lantern can be padlocked so as to prevent the theftof the lamp. If necessary, the lantern can be suspended by the handle I6. Under the cap there is a perforated sheet or a wire gauze for thepurpose of preventing extinction by a strong Wind. The lantern carrieson its sides red light intensiers or lenses l1 on which conventionalsigns can be painted or indicated for the purpose of indieating crossroads, dangerous traic spots, and the like.

The consumption of the lamp when utilizing petroleum as carburant isvery low and duration ofA operation Very long (minimum average; hoursfor a wick of 25 m/m, width with a litre of petroleum).

The invention can be applied to different types of lamps, lamps foryards, public Works, various undertakings, railways and more especiallyfor designating level crossings, cross roads, and everywhere Where thereexists inconvenience or danger for trafic.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesof America is:-

1. A flickering flame signal lamp adapted to employ liquid hydrocarbonfuel, comprising a reservoir for fuel, a wick-tube adapted to carry awick, means for regulating the length of wick projecting above the saidwick-tube, an incombustible sheath located around and extending abovesaid wick-tube and adapted to become heated by the flame produced at theend of the said projecting wick in order to vaporize fuel from thatportion of the wick which extends above the wick-tube but is within thesaid sheath, and means at the lower end of said sheath to permit theentry of air into the free space between the sheath and the wick-tubefor the purpose of forcing such fuel vapour into contact with the flamein order to momentarily intensify said flame and so produce periodicflickering of the latter.

2. A flickering flame signal lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein theincombustible sheath located around and extending above the wick-tube isprovided With apertures for the entry of air towards its lower end andincluding sliding shutter means for regulating the size of such airinlets so that the periodicity of the flickering of the flame of thelamp can be adjusted.

3. A flickering flame signal lamp as claimed in claim 1 in which thewick tube and the incombustible sheath located around and extendingabove said wick tube are of flattened rectangular section, air inletapertures are provided towards the lower end of said incombustiblesheath and there is included, as air regulating means, a stirrup memberadapted to be adjustably clamped on said sheath, said stirrup having cutaway portions foradjustable positioning with respect to the air inletapertures.

OMER MARIE CYRILLE MARISCHAL.

